To Have a First Look or Not?
This question will eventually come up from your wedding planner, wedding photographer, wedding videographer/cinematographer, or from someone else helping to plan or assist you with your wedding day. Are you planning to have a first look with your dad, groom, or any other special people in your life? There are many factors to consider before answering this question. This blog will discuss the factors to consider when considering to have a first look or not. The factors to consider when considering to have first look with your significant other, dad, or another important person are your individual personalities of your significant other and yourself and the wedding pictures and film that the desire to have from your wedding photographer or your wedding videographer/cinematographer.
Something to consider when planning a first look is to consider your own personality as a bride. If you are a person that likes some of these intimate moments to be more private then you might want to consider having a first look. A private first look gives you and your significant other that special alone time without all of the pressure and awkwardness of tons of people watching every step, tear, and word you say the first time you see some of the most important people of your day. Whether you are considering having a first look with your dad or your soon to be husband it gives some intimate alone time where natural feelings and emotions can be freely expressed.
If you are a bride that loves having all of your friends and family to be present for these big moments and it doesn’t make you nervous or anxious to have such a huge crowd gathered to be present then a first look might not work as well. Some people love sharing these moments with all of their friends and family, for everybody has different personality traits and thoughts. So, if you are a bride that really loves having people present to share these memories with then having a first look would not be for you. It is okay not to do a first look as your wedding day is your wedding day, and no one else should tell you what you have to do or what cannot be done on your wedding day.
A factor to consider when considering a first look is for your pictures and film. When your soon to be husband sees you for the first time do you want the pictures and film to be in an intimate location or with have friends and family present in the pictures or film? This is an important question because the pictures and film of a first look are some of the most beautiful and intimate as well as memorable shots.
A first look provides for beautiful film and wedding pictures with a curated background that sets the tone for intimate shots. A first look with just you and your significant other for example could be set in a garden or along a cliff overlooking the scenery of your wedding venue, and there would only be you and your significant other present. If you do a first look you tend to get more intimate shots with only the bride and the groom in the picture or film which might be something you are looking for.
On the contrary if you have your first look as you walk down the aisle then the pictures and film will not just be of you and your significant other it will be have your friends and family present in the background. This is also absolutely beautiful because then you not only get to see your groom’s reaction to a first look but you can also get the first look of your all of your friends and family as they react the beautiful scene that ensues. There are some amazing pictures and film that we have taken that has the family present to witness the beautiful scene unfolding before them in the background crying, laughing, smiling, or all of the above. Either one is okay but remember this is your wedding day, and you want to make sure that you can get everything you want out of it.
If you really love both then you can have a first look with your significant other or another person and still capture the reaction of your friends and family as you walk down the aisle. The only difference is that your significant other for example will most likely have a stronger reaction the first time he sees you, so it will be up to you to decide where and when he first sees you.
Ultimately this is your significant others and your decision on what is best for you both. Every relationship is unique which is why it is not a one size fits all situation. Once you decide with your significant other what is important to you both then you both can come up with a game plan and then just enjoy the outcome. Like we said this is your wedding day, so please make sure you are making it your own and have the time of your life. You only get married once, so enjoy every last second of your beautiful wedding day.
